Academy vs Training School: Beginner Course Review

     In previous Neopian Times issues, authors have covered the financial and course length differences between both training schools for beginners. Even though the economical situation is variable, an article like "The First Forty: A Statistical Analysis of Training Schools" outlines approximate training costs. However, as they say, knowledge is power (in Battledome - literally) and in a battle, high stats are an immeasurable value.

     Every owner wants the highest quality courses for their pets but which school provides the most suitable? The answer lies within the content of the courses. If you know that your pet wants to become a fearsome captain and sail all Neopia’s seas, then no question - Swashbuckling Academy is your first choice. They train the best professionals (or sea wolves). On the other hand, if your pet’s future plans are connected with undercover missions or serving a royal, then you would probably consider Mystery Island Training School. Their greatest emphasis is on cultivating agility and stealthiness.

     Let’s be honest - only a small handful of pets are sure about their dreams. Most of them just want to develop their talents and get a general education. This review explores the content of the courses offered by both schools to help you choose the most interesting and the best fitting courses for your upcoming Battledome champion.

     Both schools provide strength, defense, movement, endurance, and level courses.

     Strength courses include different kinds of physical exercises to build up muscles. Training School focuses on all muscle groups almost evenly. Their main methods are bodyweight exercises, swimming, and jumping. Compared to training in the Academy, Training School puts more pressure on strengthening the core and legs. The Academy also uses exercises to train muscles but as pirates travel less by foot, this school’s main focus is on arms. Their physical exercises remind the daily responsibilities of sailors - hauling on lines, holding on the rigging, and lifting heavy objects.

     If for a moment you wondered why Training School uses swimming as a method but the Academy does not then let’s look at a defense course. The Academy teaches swimming on a basic level so that in the case of an emergency sailors can save their lives. Otherwise, a defense course is primarily about how to ensure the safety of the ship - navigating and steering a ship, especially in extreme situations, and everything about the sea and power of nature and how to use it. Defense courses in Training School develop skills of stealthiness with such exercises as moving in complete darkness or hiding in the shadows. Students are also taught camouflage techniques. The ability to sneak around unnoticed can be useful to avoid unnecessary fights but the school demands perfection so the aim is to be able to conceal oneself in a matter of seconds. This skill requires years of practice but with beginner defense courses in the Training School, your pet will surely receive the basis.

     As for movement courses then both schools use similar methods to each other with a difference in the environment. Training School brings a lot of attention to cultivating agility in their students by running, especially sprints, and doing parkour. For absolute beginners, they have an obstacle course in the school territory while a bit more experienced pets go with their teacher to train in a natural environment. Mystery Island has many different natural obstacles like jungles, deserted places, volcanos, rivers, the sea, beaches, etc. The course can be tough but it surely develops the potential of each student. As previously mentioned, pirates move less by foot and use more strength of arms so the Academy’s main methods include climbing ship’s masts, hanging in the ropes, and running on a slippery and swinging deck with or without objects like piles of ropes or barrels.

     For some owners, the description of movement courses may raise questions about safety standards. Both schools have decades-long experience in training youngsters and all teachers are the most qualified in their field. Before signing up for the new course, the staff evaluates each pet’s current stats to avoid potential danger to student health. However the risk of getting hurt is inevitable, so both schools have a verbal agreement with Water Faerie Marina that she treats any physical traumas that students get during courses.

     Any professional would tell you that both physical and mental training will increase your endurance, as well as lower your chances of getting silly injuries. So that is what endurance courses at both schools are all about. The Academy teaches survival skills in the sea like how to act while being on an unstable surface or experiencing high waves, and how to deal with seasickness. Whereas Training School lets their students pick up “the art of invisibility” which includes skills to adapt to your surroundings, the ability to stay still and hidden for a long time, and breathing strategies.

     Last but not least are the level courses. The main objective of these courses is not only to deepen your pet’s skills and knowledge of the previously reviewed courses but also to educate students according to each school’s inner traditions. Correspondingly both schools guide through main aspects of either pirate or ninja lifestyle like history, traditions, daily routine, diet, weapons, fighting techniques, etc. These courses also develop logical and creative thinking that can be useful when figuring out how to use the environment to your needs. Additionally, the Academy pays a lot of attention to cooperative skills to train sailors as part of the crew.

     The offer is wide enough for beginners to try a little bit of everything. The good news is that whichever school you decide on for your pets, you don’t have any legal obligations towards them, even if Captain Threelegs or Techo Master try to convince you otherwise. Training is divided into separate courses which allow your pets to choose how to combine the expected results. Your pet can attend a few courses at one school, then continue their training at another one. The system has been for decades now, so you can be sure that the school council and teachers have adapted to differently trained students. All that is left now is to count your dubloons and codestones and head out to the next course.